Raiders’ free agency: Team’s best players might not...

1of3Raiders’ tight end Jared Cook (87) runs for a touchdown in the Raiders’ 42-28 loss to the Colts on Oct. 28.Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle 2018

2of3Marcus Gilchrist pulls in one his his team-leading three interceptions, this one coming in the Raiders’ 27-14 defeat of Denver on Christmas Eve.Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle 2018

3of3Marshawn Lynch’s 52-yard run in the Raiders’ 45-42 overtime defeat of Cleveland in September was the longest of the season for the Raiders.Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle 2018

By the end of Jon Gruden’s first season back as the Raiders’ head coach, the active roster included only 15 players who played in a game for them in 2017.

More change is surely on the way.

The Raiders, who just hired Mike Mayock as general manager, have a crop of players due to hit free agency March 13, 11 picks in the upcoming draft and about $80 million in projected room under the 2019 salary cap.

All of which means that with Gruden now firmly in charge of personnel decisions, the second offseason of his organizational rebuild could rival the first in terms of roster turnover.

Though much discussion is likely to center around whom the Raiders will go after in free agency, here is a look at several of their impending free agents:

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Jared Cook, tight end: Cook, 31, likely will seek a contract larger than the two-year, $12.2 million deal he signed with the Raiders before the 2017 season. Cook set career highs in 2018 in catches (68), receiving yards (896) and touchdowns (six) and was named a Pro Bowl alternate.

Quarterback Derek Carr clearly stated his preference for Cook to be back next season after the Raiders’ finale at Kansas City. “There’s no secret about it,” Carr said. “The last two years, that’s my go-to guy. That’s the guy I’ve been trying to get the ball to.”

It’s unclear, though, whether management feels the same way. The Raiders did not reach out to Cook’s agent about an extension during the season, the Athletic reported. They did sign tight end Darren Waller from Baltimore’s practice squad, with coordinator Greg Olson saying the Raiders wanted to see how Waller would “fit in a Jared Cook type of role.”

Marcus Gilchrist, safety: Gilchrist, playing on a one-year, $4.5 million contract in 2018, led the Raiders with three interceptions and played the second-most snaps among defensive players, behind only linebacker Tahir Whitehead. Although the Raiders’ coaches rotated cornerbacks and safeties for much of the season, they kept running Gilchrist out there.

Gilchrist can play both safety and slot corner (he played the latter in a Week 16 win over Denver). And he clearly has the respect of coordinator Paul Guenther, who said even before the season that he wants Gilchrist to coach with him when he’s done playing.

At 30, Gilchrist is likely a few years from that. And with the Raiders building a potential young core in the secondary with Gareon Conley and Daryl Worley (both 23) and safety Karl Joseph (25), Gilchrist could return as someone who can help orchestrate the defense on the field.

Marshawn Lynch/Doug Martin, running backs: The first question is whether Lynch, 32, intends to play next season, having already retired once and missing the last 10 games of 2018 with a groin injury. One factor could be whether the Raiders play their 2019 home games in Oakland, Lynch’s hometown, or elsewhere. Then there’s whether the Raiders would bring him back. (Gruden did praise Lynch last season as a future Hall of Famer.)

If Lynch does not return, the Raiders could be more inclined to sign Martin, who was buried on the depth chart before Lynch’s injury but wound up averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Martin said after the finale he loves playing for Gruden and believes in what the Raiders are building. Worth remembering: Chris Warren III, the undrafted rookie who impressed in preseason, will be returning from injured reserve.

Daryl Worley, cornerback: Worley will be a restricted free agent and a strong candidate to return. After serving a four-game suspension to open the season, Worley quickly seized a starting role, forming an outside combination with Conley. Coaches described those two late in the season as potential starters for the future.

Worley also appears to value playing for Gruden. The Raiders signed Worley, 23, in April after he was released by the Eagles following an arrest (he later pleaded guilty to charges including DUI). After the season, Worley wrote a post on Instagram detailing how he thanks Gruden before every kickoff for “giving me another opportunity to play this game.”

Jalen Richard, running back: As late as November, Gruden said Richard “might be the MVP of our team” (he later bestowed that honor on Cook). The point — Gruden likes what Richard brings to the Raiders’ offense, also comparing him to Charlie Garner, a Gruden favorite from his first stint in Oakland.

Richard, 25, began the season as a third-down back but carved out a larger role with versatility. He had 68 receptions for 607 yards and averaged 4.7 rushing yards on 55 carries. Gruden said he could see Richard as a lead back, though he was used as a complementary back. As a solid locker-room presence and restricted free agent, Richard is another player likely to return next season.